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Gerardo Balbontin remarked that 2010 will mark a shift in trend regarding Chilean salmon production. (Photo: Itata/ FIS)
Salmon exec trusts in sector’s recovery
CHILE
Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 20:50 (GMT + 9)
The general manager of Pesquera Itata SA estimates that by 2013 salmon production could recover the levels it had prior to the infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISA) outbreaks, which first surfaced in 2007.
"Chile has great potential in aquaculture, in terms of volume, to be able to produce that previous to the ISA and even surpass it. The time periods are long in this business, considering the biological cycle of the stocks," Gerald Balbontin says.
He further added: "In any case, this year will mark a shift in trend: in 2011 there will be an increase with respect to 2010 – the lowest as far as production – and in 2012 we are going to be at 70 per cent of what was produced prior to the crisis, and in 2013, we should be practically at the figures we were able to produce before."
Nonetheless, the manager of Itata clarifies that this recovery will only be achieved if "the activity is carried out on a wider extension of land, not by means of a concentration of the same, like that of
Region X," where nearly 70 per cent of the total was being produced.
"The development of
Region XI must be fomented and incipiently of
Region XII," he emphasises.
Balbontin calculates that at least one investment of around USD 1 million will be needed to recover the biomass previous to the ISA, Estrategia reports.
He also predicts that "when the figures of industry become common knowledge, there will be even investors interested.”
In his opinion, this is the best year for investors with regard to "opportunities to buy at low prices."
However, the executive clarifies that for now his company is not in search of investors because it has the financing it requires to execute its expansion plan.
Last May, the Salmon Industry Association of Chile AG (SalmonChile) estimates that salmon production will reach 385,000 gross tonnes and 245,000 net tonnes in 2011, which would imply a recovery of around 10 per cent with respect to this year.
That productive increase would to a large extent be assured if the farming companies accede to planned financing, have specimens for breeding available and if salmon mortality drops.
Related article:
- Recovery for salmon farming industry slated for 2011
By Analia Murias
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www.seafood.media
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